Атлант расправил плечи
The Concerto of Deliverance
Hehadseen,inafinalimage,thesoulandessenceofhisenemies:themindlessfaceofthethugwiththeclub.Itwasnotthefaceitselfthatmadehimdrawbackinhorror,buttheprofessors,thephilosophers,themoralists,themysticswhohadreleasedthatfaceupontheworld.
Hefeltapeculiarcleanliness.Itwasmadeofprideandofloveforthisearth,thisearthwhichwashis,nottheirs.Itwasthefeelingwhichhadmovedhimthroughhislife,thefeelingwhichsomeamongmenknowintheiryouth,thenbetray,butwhichhehadneverbetrayedandhadcarriedwithinhimasabattered,attacked,unidentified,butlivingmotor—thefeelingwhichhecouldnowexperienceinitsfull,uncontestedpurity:thesenseofhisownsuperlativevalueandthesuperlativevalueofhislife.Itwasthefinalcertaintythathislifewashis,tobelivedwithnobondagetoevil,andthatthatbondagehadneverbeennecessary.Itwastheradiantserenityofknowingthathewasfreeoffear,ofpain,ofguilt.
Ifit’strue,hethought,thatthereareavengerswhoareworkingforthedeliveranceofmenlikeme,letthemseemenow,letthemtellmetheirsecret,letthemclaimme,letthem—"Comein!"hesaidaloud,inanswertotheknockonhisdoor.
Thedooropenedandhelaystill.
